College football isn’t just about what happens on the field anymore. The latest mess swirling around Duke quarterback Darian Mensah and his leap into the transfer portal has everyone—fans, insiders, you name it—buzzing.
It’s not just a simple transfer, either. There are NIL deals, lawsuits, and maybe even a fresh start on the horizon. If you’re trying to keep up, here’s what’s actually going on between Mensah and Duke University.
The Background: Darian Mensah’s Journey
Darian Mensah kicked off his college career at Tulane. He redshirted the 2023 season, then took over as starting quarterback in 2024.
That year, he put up 2,723 passing yards, 22 touchdowns, and six interceptions. His passer rating hit 166.7, and he completed nearly 66% of his throws.
Those numbers led the American Conference. No surprise—he quickly became a hot name in the transfer market.
Transfer to Duke
Mensah was looking for a bigger stage, so he landed at Duke for the 2025 season. And wow, his numbers jumped again: 3,973 passing yards, 34 touchdowns, just six picks.
He led the ACC in passing yards and touchdowns. The Blue Devils finished 9-5 and took home the ACC Championship, thanks in no small part to Mensah’s arm.
The NIL Deal and Its Implications
Getting Mensah to Duke wasn’t cheap. The reported NIL deal was a jaw-dropping $4 million per season, set for two years.
At first, Mensah said he’d stick with the contract. But soon enough, things got murky.
The Transfer Portal Announcement
On January 16, Mensah posted on X that he was entering the transfer portal. He cited personal reasons and family talks.
Given his earlier promises, the news caught a lot of people off guard.
Duke’s Legal Response
Duke didn’t just shrug it off. On January 20, the university filed a lawsuit against Mensah.
The suit claims he broke the NIL agreement by revealing the contract’s value, trying to license his NIL elsewhere, and talking to other schools without telling Duke.
Details of the Lawsuit
Duke argues that Mensah’s actions damaged both his reputation and the school’s. They pushed for a temporary restraining order to keep him out of the portal, but a judge said no.
Now, another judge will decide if Mensah can enroll at a new school, play, and license his NIL elsewhere. It’s all pretty up in the air.
Potential Future with Miami Hurricanes
While the legal battle drags on, the rumor mill is churning. Most folks think Mensah could land with the Miami Hurricanes, who just made it to the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Miami needs a new starting quarterback after Carson Beck left. Mensah might just be the guy.
Miami’s History with Transfer QBs
Miami’s not new to this. They’ve brought in transfer quarterbacks two seasons in a row—Carson Beck in 2025, Cam Ward in 2024.
So, if Mensah is cleared, Miami feels like a natural fit. But who knows? College football’s never predictable.
Comparisons to Demond Williams Jr.
This whole thing feels a lot like what happened with Demond Williams Jr. at Washington. Williams signed a $4 million NIL deal to stay put, then almost immediately jumped into the transfer portal.
Washington considered legal action, but Williams ended up staying after all. Maybe Mensah’s story will play out differently—or maybe not.
The ongoing situation between Darian Mensah and Duke University is turning a lot of heads in college football right now.
NIL deals are popping up everywhere, and honestly, it feels like everyone’s still figuring out the rules as they go.
Will Mensah end up with the Miami Hurricanes? Or will there be more legal twists? Hard to say.
What’s obvious is that college athletics isn’t what it used to be—and nobody can afford to ignore these changes.
If you want to dig deeper into the details, check out Fox Sports.
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